Bait containers



April 28, 1964 K. K. cooK BAIT CONTAINERS Filed May 1, 1961 zfllivdfg INVENTOR KEITH K. COO K BY 5W) ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice p 3,13%,352 BAIT CGN'IAENERS Keith Klugh Qoolr, 2% Kelso St, Paxtang, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed May 1, 1961, Ser. No. 1%,537 4- Claims. (Cl. HO-17) This invention relates generally to containers, and more particularly to an insulated bait container having a new and improved joint structure.

While container structures having a container placed Within an outer container for purposes of keeping 'minnows, worms, etc. fresh over extended periods of time are known in the art, difficulty has been experienced in keeping the cold air within the container and the warm surrounding air out of the container particularly along the joints thereof. Similar problems arise in portable food containers of the two-container type wherein an insulated outer container carried ice or the like, and also the inner container receives the food to be chilled.

In such prior art containers, difiiculty has also been experienced in removing contents from the inner container. Containers having screw-on caps, lids with snap fasteners, or spring-loaded lids, all for the purpose of allowing access to the contents of the containers, are known in the art. provide the ease of access, the greatly improved joint insulation means and the closure means of my invention.

An object of this invention is to provide a container or the like hcving a new and improved joint closure structure.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved container joint structure located between an inner container, and outer container, and a cover therefor, the joint structures composed of material having a low thermal conductivity to provide the added feature of an insulated joint.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a two-piece container joint structure wherein a first resilient element carried by one portion thereof is of recessed shape permitting the frictional and locking engagement of a second resilient element carried by another portion thereof.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a two-piece joint structure wherein the first resilient recessed element has an outwardly-curved surface which snugly engages an inwardly-curved surface on the second resilient element thereby providing a locking engagement between the two elements.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a third resilient joint member attached to the lid of the container and snugly engaging the container providing a notably superior closure means.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a bait container embodying features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a broken out side elevation view taken along lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the joint shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a bait container 16, is of kidney shape (see FIGURE 1), and includes an outer container 12 which consists of two sheets 14 and 16 between which is sandwiched a sheet 15 of glass fiber or the like, for purposes of insulation. A bottom wall 18 is attached to the container walls by welding or by other suitable means.

An inner container 2t) for carrying bait or the like However, these constructions fail to is provided for placement within the outer container, the container 20 having a side wall 22 and bottom wall 24. Extending outwardly about the side wall 22 of the inner container 20 is flange 26 termination with a downwardly extending portion 23.

The container 10 has a cover 30 conforming to the kidney shape of outer casing 12. The cover 30 is of two-piece construction, there being provided a first lid element 32 joined to outer casing 12, and hinged as at 34 to second lid element 33 allowing the latter to be raised for entry into inner container 20. In this regard, the lid elements 10, 32 and 33 are joined to the container by joints according to this invention, the joints being split at the ends of the hinge 34. Air holes 36 may be punched or drilled in cover element 33.

While the two-piece cover construction just described is preferred, the cover 30 may also be made of onepiece construction entirely removable to permit access to the inner container 20.

The cover 30 terminates along its peripheral edge in a downwardly extending rim portion 33. Surrounding the upper end region of outer container 12 is a first joint member 42 composed of rubber or other resilient material, presenting an inner sealing surface 44, a top sealing surface 46, and an outer sealing surface 48.

Attached to the side wall of the inner container 20, the lower surface of the upper flange 26, and the inner peripheral surface of the downwardly extending portion 28, is a second joint member 50, also composed of rubber or other resilient material. This second joint member presents a cooperative inner sealing surface 52, a bottom sealing surface 54, and an outer sealing surface 56.

The joint members 42 and 50 are of generally complementary shape, the joint 50 being recessed so as to allow engagement with the joint 42. The joint 42 fits snugly within joint 50, the surface 44 bearing against the surface 52, the surface 46 hearing against the surface 54, and the surface 48 bearing against the surface 56. The surface 48 of the joint member 42 is inwardly curved, as seen in FIGURE 3, matching an outwardly curved configuration of the surface 56 of joint member 50, to provide an efficient locking engagement therebetween.

A third resilient joint member 58 is attached to cover 30 on the inside of the rim 38 and may extend around the periphery of the cover 30 or may cover the entire surface thereof as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 and extends around the periphery of the cover 3% as at 31. The purpose of joint member 53 is two-fold. First, it provides a frictional closure means between cover rim 33 and inner container rim 28; and secondly, it serves as insulation between cover 3% and flange 26.

As will be appreciated, various means (not shown) such as clips or straps of various types may be attached to the container to make it conveniently portable.

A structure has been provided comprising an outer casing or container 12 into which Dry Ice or crushed ice may be placed in order to keep the contents of inner container 20 cool and fresh. The inner container 20 is inserted into the cavity formed by outer casing 12 in such a manner that joint member 42 sealingly engages joint member 50. Cover 48 is then placed on the top of the container, joint member 58 attached thereto sealingly engaging the downwardly extending portion 28.

A bait container has therefore been disclosed which provides means allowing for ease of access to the inside thereof; which provides a much improved sealing and insulation means to protect its contents over extended periods of time; and which provides a closure means much improved over that of the prior art.

Accordingly, even if the container 10 is tipped on its side, the various elements will not separate by virtue of the frictional and locking engagement between the joints.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to th' precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bait container comprising an outer container having side walls and a bottom wall; a first resilient joint member surrounding the upper end region of said side walls thereby providing an inner sealing surface adjacent said side walls; an inner container having a side Wall and a bottom wall and including an upper flange portion extending outwardly from the side wall thereof, and a rim portion extending downwardly from the periphery of said upper flange; a second resilient joint member attached to the recessed surface defined by the side wall of said inner container, the lower side of said upper flange portion, and the inside peripheral side of said downwardly extending portion, the outer surface of said second resilient joint member attached to the side wall of said inner container sealingly engaging the inner surface of said first resilient joint member; a cover for said casing including a downwardly extending peripheral side Wall; a third resilient joint member attached to the inner surface of said cover sidewall the inner surface of said third resilient joint member sealingly engaging the outer surface of the downwardly extending flange portion of said inner container.

2. A bait container comprising an outer container having side Walls and a bottom wall, a first resilient joint member surrounding the upper region of said side walls thereby providing an outer sealing surface and an inner sealing surface; an inner container having a side wall and a bottom wall and including an upper flange portion extending outwardly from the side wall thereof, and a rim portion extending downwardly from the periphery of said upper flange; a second resilient joint member attached to the recessed surface defined by the side wall of said inner container, the lower side of said upper flange, and the inside peripheral surface of said downwardly extending portion, the outer surface of the second resilient joint member attached to the side wall of said inner container sealingly engaging the inner surface of said first resilient joint member.

3. A bait container comprising an outer container having side walls and a bottom wall; a first resilient joint member surrounding the upper region of said side walls thereby providing an outer sealing surface and an inner sealing surface; an inner container having a side Wall and a bottom wall and including an upper flange portion extending from the side wall thereof, and a rim portion extending downwardly from the periphery of said upper flange; a second resilient joint member attached to the recessed surface defined by the side wall of said inner container, the lower side of said upper flange, and the inside peripheral side of said rim, the outer surface of said second resilient joint member being attached to the side wall of said inner container to sealingly engage the inner surface of said first resilient joint member and the inner surface of said second resilient joint member to sealingly engage the outer surface of said first resilient joint member.

4. A bait container defined in claim 1 wherein said first resilient joint member has an outer sealing surface surrounding said side Walls and said second resilient joint member has a cooperatively facing inner sealing surface adjacent said rim portion, said last-mentioned surfaces being cooperatively recessed for interlocking sealing engagement with one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 999,672 Puffer Aug. 1, 1911 2,207,543 Knapp July 9, 1940 2,564,843 Hemp Aug. 21, 1951 2,690,853 Kircher Oct. 5, 1954 2,809,764 Diamond Oct. 15, 1957 

1. A BAIT CONTAINER COMPRISING AN OUTER CONTAINER HAVING SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM WALL; A FIRST RESILIENT JOINT MEMBER SURROUNDING THE UPPER END REGION OF SAID SIDE WALLS THEREBY PROVIDING AN INNER SEALING SURFACE ADJACENT SAID SIDE WALLS; AN INNER CONTAINER HAVING A SIDE WALL AND A BOTTOM WALL AND INCLUDING AN UPPER FLANGE PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE SIDE WALL THEREOF, AND A RIM PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID UPPER FLANGE; A SECOND RESILIENT JOINT MEMBER ATTACHED TO THE RECESSED SURFACE DEFINED BY THE SIDE WALL OF SAID INNER CONTAINER, THE LOWER SIDE OF SAID UPPER FLANGE PORTION, AND THE INSIDE PERIPHERAL SIDE OF SAID DOWN- 